EST Magazine makes me happy. Mainly because I’ve been into black and white interiors lately, not that I’d ever try a 100% b/w monochromatic scheme at home, but because I absolutely love the idea of bringing more black into my home to warm it up for winter. Especially soot black, that gorgeously yummy matte — it’s a favorite of mine at the moment and I’m trying to think of what I can paint to include it in my living room scheme. I already brought in a big recycled rubber tote for my living room for storing magazines and a matte black Eames rocker… So I’m thinking what else can I add. Which brings me to EST magazine – it’s packed with ideas for those of you who want a calm, casual interior. Sand, charcoal, dove gray, navy blue… all paired with cream or pure white. Heaven.

EST just announced their 3rd issue that just rolled out on monitors worldwide and of course, I’m smitten… Look at that table above – could it be much better than that?! I use PTMD paints out of the Netherlands because they are mostly chalky neutral colors and recently I painted a wooden bookcase a medium gray matte and I love it. I mean, I really, really love it. There is something so tactile and real about chalky surfaces on furniture and walls. I’m not sure how well it will hold up over time (I may need to add a clear top coat) but for now, I dig it completely.

From LA to the Hampton’s, from the inner city of Melbourne, Australia to Scandinavia — you can find lots to make you drool this month in EST. But I want to focus on the black I’m seeing in so many of their spreads… Gorgeous!

Did you notice the huge white paper lantern above? It may be one of those cheap ones from IKEA… and if so, what a great idea to add painted on details – spots, stripes, anything goes. Love the black organic spots! By the way, that table above is the exact gray I was telling you about – that is the color of my bookcase.

I’m really into feathers and anything in black white and or/brown that looks very modern but also Native American. A headdress, antlers, reindeer furs, feathers, a dream catcher in white… but all very muted and organic looking. I first noticed one of my favorite Danish stylists using them in her home about 5 years ago and started to like it then but most recently, I’m finding Native American influences in design very fresh and beautiful. It seems that Europe gets more in touch with this trend than we do in America and I’m not sure why. I think we may associate it with the typical Southwestern style in the rust tones with blue and yellow… but in Europe, particularly the Netherlands and Scandinavia, they interpret Native American style into something quite amazing — they make it very neutral and tactile and pay special attention to the details. I find it completely inspiring.

If you recall, I first told you about EST when they launched, and I loved what I saw, but most like digital magazines you wonder if they’ll have what it takes to stick around or if they’ll just become another e-mag that looks and feels like everything else on digital newsstands. EST is different and they are really proving it – their consistent, gorgeous editing and fresh, clean take on design is both inspiring and motivating. I can’t wait to see how far they go and how popular they become – they have the potential to be a huge success and hopefully, if you like what you see, you’ll become a regular EST reader and support them. Enjoy!

(images: est magazine)

Oh dear, this is truly a rabbit hole that I’ve slipped into with pillows! I’m falling deeper and deeper into it and am unsure if I’ll surface anytime soon so please don’t mind me if I post about pillows yet again. I think it’s a nesting instinct for me that comes very naturally in the Autumn when my decorating wheels are spinning and all I want to do is redecorate, move my furniture around and “warm up” my space for the cooler months with wool rugs, throws, velvets, leathers, candles and oh yes, throw pillows. They are the easiest way to breath life into nearly any room and for me, one can never have enough. For the men out there who endure our pillow obsession, you are very kind to indulge us. Which leads me to ask, just why do men think throw pillows are so useless? Inquiring minds want to know… Back yes, back to my obsession with the throw pillow. This time, let us gaze upon the soft and sumptuous beauties from Megan Park Home.

I love the embroidered details, such a hot trend too! The homemade/homespun style is so big that you notice it in nearly every market from the home to fashion, accessories, even packaging with lots of fonts that look like handwriting or in packaging that was factory-born but still looks a bit handmade. I personally love the trend and enjoy seeing how much influence the independent handmade movement has had on mainstream design with a big thanks to blogs and the internet for making it so viral and allowing the indie movement to spread so quickly and influence so many. It’s something to be proud of! But back to Megan Park Home… Oh, the beauty that can be found in her various collections is truly inspiring. But first, do you know much about the lady behind the label?

My, my, my… I want the paper lamp on the wall and the white paper birds, all of the cushions and of course, the chandelier. Isn’t this a pretty space?

“Renowned for her artisan’s touch, Megan Park creates a collection that mixes the ancient traditions and craft of hand embroidery with the cuts, shapes and fabrics of today to create heirlooms of the future. Australian-born Megan Park studied fashion design at RMIT, and upon leaving college began work as a textile designer in Melbourne. In 1993 she moved to London to begin designing textiles for a well-respected agency working for the likes of Givenchy, Dries van Noten and Kenzo. In 1997, Megan launched her own label in London with an eponymous collection of evening bags and scarves, which has now grown to include womenswear and accessories collections, as well as Megan Park Girl and Megan Park Home (a soft furnishings home collection). Having established her reputation Internationally, in 2004 Megan followed her heart back to Australia, which is now where she and her team are based.” My goodness, this lady is a creative dynamo!

I love that each item in her collection is exclusive being both designed and developed in-house with fabrics hand-dyed, motifs hand blocked or hand screen-printed, colors applied by experts who carefully ensure they are pure and consistent, and embroidery hand applied using the zardosi and ari traditional styles which incorporate beads, crystals, stones and sequins (my favorite, I’m a huge sequin fan!). Have you seen her Fall 2011 collection, it’s my favorite!

(images: megan park home)

Chelsea Cefai launched Flora Dora House this past May and the buzz is already in the air over her retro fabulous textiles, “It all began just over two years ago when I became the proud owner of more than 200 original patterns from the 1950′s, 60′s and 70′s. Until now the designs of Royal Academy artist Sheila Bownas have never been seen. I hope to breath new life into these beautiful patterns and create a unique source of inspiration for todays interior.” Her current collections from the 50′s and 60′s are very colorful, quirky and fun. I especially love seeing these prints on white Bertoia chairs.

I have a white Bertoia at home with an original gray leather seat cushion and I’m thinking to sew up a fabric cushion instead to give it some life… especially after seeing this photo below. If you don’t enjoying sewing though, you can always pick one up pre-made right here in her lovely shop or in her Etsy store. I love this homespun style and especially like adding quirky seat cushions to vintage chairs, stools, sofas, etc. Fun!

(images: flora dora house)

Yes, I know… I’ve been a bit on a pillow kick lately. Today I heard from interior and textiles designer (and blogger) Caitlin Wilson who told me all about her new fabric and pillow line under the brand Caitlin Wilson Textiles and I went a bit bonkers. Not only because they are gorgeous and totally versatile and can fit nearly any style – love that – but because Caitlin turned her frustration into a business and I’m always so energized by stories like hers (more about that below). But first, aren’t these patterns and colors so fresh and gorgeous?

Caitlin launched her design practice, Caitlin Wilson Design, in 2007 and has been designing spaces from San Francisco to the Cayman Islands every since with her work appearing in top magazines and books. Here is a glimpse from her design portfolio that covers every style from African to Eclectic and beyond… If you’d like to view more, her entire portfolio can be viewed here.

Blue + Orange = great color combo!

Geometric neutrals in a kitchen adds class.

A touch of ethnic pattern makes this kitchen a bit more playful.

Pear + lilac work beautifully together in a nursery.

Add some bright violets to punch up a pastel palette.

Black, white and goldenrod with a little blue and a lot of pattern. Perfect!

This art display really works – I love how close the bottom picture is to the floor – fantastic!

An all white kitchen gets a dress touch with bold pink as an accent through tea towels and a simple floral arrangement. Budget decorating!

As she designed all of the spaces that you see above, you can imagine she had to dig through a lot of resources to find the gorgeous things that she used to decorate and layer each room. In the process though, Caitlin found a void in the market when it comes to colorful patterns at an affordable price point so she decided to give her own brand a try and design what she felt was missing. Instead of simply living frustrated like so many, complaining about what they cannot have or find, she decided to create it herself. You go, Caitlin! Now she has these beautiful textiles that you see shown below (and many more right here) that you can order and enjoy in your own home. Yum!

In her online shop, you can purchase fabric by the yard and pillow covers. Try the fabric to upholster chairs, a headboard or to make a duvet for your bed. I personally love her collection and hope that you do too!

(images: caitlin wilson)

Hello friends, it is Leslie here with Color Me Pretty for October. I recently visited a beautiful apple orchard on Vancouver Island because it is that time of year here. The days are crisp, the leaves have changed color and the nights are getting very cold. Having lived the last fourteen years in Los Angeles, I have forgotten how cold nights can get back up here in Canada!

While I was wandering (and shivering!) around picking and photographing all the fruit, I got really inspired to bake. There is something about apples and cinnamon that just gives me a cozy home feeling. Especially when you come into the house smelling them cooking after freezing yourself outside. How about you? There is usually some combination baking in the oven that makes you feel like home, right?

Keeping with this simple pairing I thought it would be fun to use my apples in the kitchen as inspiration for this months column. A classic favorite of red and pale cinnamon brown from my home to yours.

One of the apple recipes I used was this rustic looking apple crostata, it got gobbled up by my family pretty quickly which is a good sign of a recipe success.

I also made some cranberry and apple conserve which, looks really pretty for gifts in some glass jars and tastes great with poultry or as a condiment for a cheese platter.

Since the days are getting shorter, I have been lighting candles later in the day. Old jam and mason jars look pretty filled with a little water and a tea light. The water helps keep the glass from cracking from the heat of the candle. You can line these inexpensive candle holders along a window or group them on your kitchen table. These recycled jars are always pretty.

You can even use twine, ribbon and/or washi tapes from Japan to dress up plain bottles and add them to a shelf or windowsill. Decorating doesn’t have to be expensive – just think outside of the box and customize what you have with what’s laying around your craft room.

Try translating what inspires you from nature, for instance a trip to an orchard, into something handmade. You can try making your own cards, a notebook, or simply pinning things according to a specific palette onto your mood board to inspire you and decorate your work room.

Lastly, I have been seeing coffee filters used for wrapping all over lately. I had first come across this funny use of filters in some Japanese craft books and was not entirely convinced. However, for a small gift I now think this ruffled thin paper looks quite sweet for wrapping. I am partial to the unbleached natural color of the basket filters paired with baker’s twine and a little red accent. Of course they are food safe so I can also imagine using them for wrapping holiday cookies in a couple months.

I hope you have enjoyed this apple inspired post and I look forward to seeing you here next month. Until then take good care and maybe take some time to bake something yummy. – Leslie Shewring.

(images/styling: leslie shewring)